Thursday, October 24, 2013

If
he nurtures both crops they will flourish. Corn will grow in one field
and poison ivy in the other. The fertile field treats the corn and the
poison ivy the same. Each, if nurtured will thrive and grow.

Your mind is no different to a fertile field. Whatever you plant in it and nurture will
grow. If you plant seeds of success and nurture those seeds with
materials that help you to learn and to create your successes, your mind
will come alive with ideas and suggestions to help you on your journey.

If
you plant seeds of negativity in your mind and you nurture those seeds
with self-doubt, negativity and material that is designed to keep your
mind occupied and not energised, your mind will fill itself with reasons
why success can’t be created, excuses that caused you to fail, resent
for others who are successful, blame for everything that prevented you
from being successful, jealousy for those who are successful and many
more dark perspectives that drain energy and stop you from creating the
success you desire.

What is a simple, time effective way to nurture your mind with success?

Multiple studies
have identified the benefits of mobile learning practices such as
listening to audio learning programs. In Australia data suggests the average commute is 45 minutes,
each way to and from work. This equates to an average 600 hours of
commuter travel per year (assuming 48 weeks of work and four weeks
holiday).

For
time poor people, using this time to learn material that will help you
on your journey to create Life Balance and Personal Success is an
opportunity waiting to be put in to action. Imagine adding an extra 600
hours worth of focused learning material to nurture your mind! Given the
research indicates that mobile learning does have benefits (it isn’t
perfect, but learning benefits do exist) why not turn your commute (by
car or public transport) into your very own mobile university. Buy audio
books and subscribe to relevant podcasts that will enable you to feed your mind with material that will nurture it and keep it healthy.

Given
an average full time university semester equals around 500 hours of
learning, you could be accessing the equivalent of a full semester of
academic learning if you choose to use this strategy.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

“Are you coming to the party this weekend?” Your response, “Hmmm, I’m not sure I’ll try to get there.”

“Can you get me the report by tomorrow afternoon?” Your response, “I have a lot on. I’ll try to get it to you.”

Self talk, “I know that I should read more so I’ll try to read fifteen minutes every day.”

“Have you lost some weight?” Your response, “Yes I’m trying to get fitter and to lose a few pounds.”

“Are you coming to training tonight?” Your response, “I’m going to try to get there.”

“I’ll try.” When
you read the above statements are you filled with confidence that the
person is really going to do what they are saying they will “Try” to do?

When I hear people say, “I’ll try” I’m about 98% sure that whatever it is they are saying they are going to “Try” to do isn’t going to happen, get done or achieved.

The statement is pathetic and provides an instant ‘get out‘ clause for not doing something.

If you are serious about
creating success in your life you must drop this statement from your
vocabulary. Instead, follow this formula.

1. Make a commitment

If you are going to do something properly commit to it. Make the decision. Saying “I’ll try.” is neither a decision nor a commitment.

2. Be clear with your responses

“Are you coming to the party this weekend?” Your response, “Yes. I’m there, count me in.”

“Can you get the report to me by tomorrow afternoon?” Your response, “Done!“

Self talk, “I read for fifteen minutes every day on topics that are helping me to improve my skills.”

“Have you lost some weight?” Your response, “Yes I’m getting fitter and healthier. This ‘new me’ is here to stay!“

“Are you coming to training tonight?” Your response, “No. Not tonight. I have a more important commitment to my family. I’ll be there next week.”

Your language should support your commitment and decision.

3. Imagine success

Whenever you make a
commitment to something, imagine what success will really look like. See
yourself handing the report in to your boss thirty minutes ahead of
schedule. Imagine the pleased look on your boss’s face when she reads
through your report. Imagine the appreciative comments you will hear her
say.

When you have a goal to be
fitter and healthier ‘see’ the new you being active and looking good,
not just for a short period, but for as far as you can see into the
future.

4. Create a plan

No doubt many things can be planned in your head. If something is important and really must
get done, then having a plan that lives in your head is a major risk to
your productivity. Instead, write your plan down. Identify clear
outcomes. Identify your starting point. Work out what you need to do
(your actions) and then work out which actions have the highest leverage
– in other words if these actions don’t happen then the job won’t get
done or won’t get done to the required standards.

For example. You’ve
committed to getting the report to your boss as requested. It now has to
be delivered a day early. You have already imagined what success looks
like so write what you imagined in Step 3 above. Next, write your
current starting point. If the report is 50% complete, then write that
down. If you are waiting on some data from Jane, write that down. Next,
identify the actions that you’ll need to take to complete the report and
to get it to your boss as requested. Out of the tasks that you have
listed, identify the ones that have the highest influence on achieving
your objectives. These need attention and focus and must be completed as
soon as possible. In this example, such an action would be to contact
Jane directly and explain to her how the deadline for the report has
been moved forward and how you will do whatever you need to do to help
get that information from her.

Your list of actions will
also include less important tasks that someone else could do. Quickly
delegate those tasks to other people. If there are no other people then
you have to do them yourself. But do these after the most important
tasks have been completed or are under ‘control’.

5. ‘Do’ your plan

Take action. Follow your plan. Adjust if necessary but stay focussed. Create the success you desire.

These five steps will take you from being someone who “Tries to be successful”
to someone who is “successful”. Do yourself a favour and drop the word
“try” from your vocabulary. It’s useless and it doesn’t work.

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